DOZENS of families were forced to ‘postpone’ Christmas - after a faulty electrical cable caused a 24-hour power cut.

Residents were left without heating and hot water when electricity failed late on Christmas Eve.

Home-owners say they had to wrap presents by candle light, and put together alternative last-minute festive plans.

United Utilities engineers toiled until 7.30pm on Christmas Day night to restore electricity to Banks Road, Banks - but residents are now demanding a permanent solution to what they call a ‘perennial problem’.

Resident Debbie Jones said: “They have offered us £50 compensation, which is ridiculous.

“This has totally ruined our Christmas.

“We are not sure whether to eat any of the food in our freezer, because everything has defrosted. There has been no heating, no hot water. It has just been an absolute joke.”

Engineers arrived at 8pm on Christmas Eve to change three fuses at a local substation, and returned in the morning to dig through pavement, replacing a stretch of defective cable.

Mrs Jones is one of several homeowners who have contacted energy regulator Ofgem in a bid to improve the state of cabling in the area.

She said: “This isn’t the first time this has happened, and you learn to live with it for an hour or so. But when it goes off for 24 hours, it is just unacceptable in 2007.

“In July you can live with it, but not in December. It’s like going back to the 17th century.”

Resident Ron Hall said: “Everyone down here has had to celebrate Christmas on Boxing Day. It is the first year I have had an electric cooker as well which has made it worse!

“Of course, it doesn’t just affect us, it affects all the families that have come to spend Christmas with us.

“We all keep hundreds of candles, we really have no choice. I remember the power went during Christmas when I first moved here a decade ago.”

Mr Hall added: “We were even forced to miss the Queen’s speech, but maybe that’s the one thing to be grateful for!”

United Utilities has apologised for any inconvenience caused.

A spokesman said: “We received a report at approximately 6.50pm on Christmas Eve that a cable fault had occurred in the area. Our engineers arrived on-site and began carrying out repairs as quickly as possible.

“We were able to restore seven of the 42 affected customers by 12.30am on Christmas Day.”